Naouma Kouzionis

Born in Siatista, Greece on August 22nd, 1923, Naouma was the eldest daughter and 3rd eldest child overall of the 12 siblings in her family. Therefore, beginning at the tender age of 5 years old, she found herself responsible for helping her mother raise all of her younger siblings.

As a result, Naouma was unable to finish high school but her thirst for knowledge did not fade. In fact, it led her to hide away in the family barn with a book in her hands whenever she found herself with some time to spare. Her extraordinary imagination and love for literature allowed her to help write award-winning school essays for her brothers and sisters. She had not only become a second mother to the younger siblings, but a self-taught educator as well.

School wasn’t the only thing she gave up to help support the family. She would tell stories about having to ration her portions of bread to help feed the younger ones. She claims this is why she was always so tiny.

At the age of 30, she met and married George Kouzionis and went on to have two children together, Peristera and Nicholas, shortly after. Years later, and still an advocate for great education, she left her home in Greece with her family and relocated to Elmhurst, Queens to provide a better life for her children. Incredibly brave for a woman who had never been outside of her small hometown, coming all the way to the United States to start a new life whilst not having ever spoken a word of English.

For the first time in her life, she had a paying job. She commuted every day to 7th Avenue in New York City, where she worked as a high-end fur finisher with her sister, Alexandra. This gave Naouma a sense of confidence and independence she hadn’t felt before. A few years later, she and George had saved up enough to purchase their home in Corona, Queens.

In her free time, Naouma enjoyed reading, needlepointing, crocheting, planting flowers, storytelling and attending weekly mass at Church. She adored her 4 grandchildren and was the most generous, kind, sweet, nurturing Yiayia to all of them, who loved her just as much. She was blessed to have been around for the birth of 5 great grandchildren as well.

If you knew Naouma, you knew she was the strongest, toughest, most fearless little woman in the whole world. Through every fall, broken bone, surgery, infection, sickness, etc, she always persevered and kept fighting. Giving up just wasn’t in her nature. A true role model for us all. She survived her husband by 24 years and almost made it to her 103rd birthday!

She will be sorely missed but her long, beautiful life will continue to be celebrated. May her memory be eternal.

Visiting will be held at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358, US, on July 26, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The Funeral Service will take place at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church, 100 Fairway Dr, Port Washington, NY 11050, US, on July 27, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, followed by Interment at Flushing Cemetery, 163-06 46th Ave, Flushing, NY 11358, US, on July 27, 2026, from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, US (www.stjude.org), or to St Basil Academy, 79 St Basil Road, Garrison, New York,10524 US.